Washboard.



No. 842,964. PATENTED FEB. 5, 1907.

F. MARTIN.

WASHBOARD. APPLICATION FILED MAB-10, 1906.

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FREDERIC MARTIN, CE COLUMBUS, CHIC.

WASHBOARD.

Nok 842,964.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 5, 1907.

Application filed March l0, 1906. Serial No. 305,222.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, FREDERIC MARTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at CC- lumbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metallic Plates, of which the following is a specification.

.My invention relates to an improved metallic plate having a series of staggered projections upon the face thereof. This plate is particularly adapted for use as a rubbingplate for washboards, and such an adaptation thereof has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, though it is to be understood that its use is not limited to such purpose, but that the plate forming the subjectmatter of the *present invention may be utilized as an interior lining for washing-machines, or it Inay be used. in the manufacture of various articles, such as waste-b askets, hassocks, cuspidors, and like articles of manufacture, said plate presenting a pleasing and ornamental aspect when made up in metals of varying colors.

The herein-described plate when used in conjunction with washboards provides a rubbing-surface of such construction and coniiguration as to eifectually wash the clothes rubbed thereon.

The construction of this plate is such as to provide a plurality of rows of rubbing-breasts between which are located water-pockets, the

rubbin .-breasts of each row being staggered with re ation to the rubbing-breasts of adjacent rows.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which now follows.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a washboard constructed in accordance with the invention and having a portion of the rubbing-plate thereof broken away Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section upon line x of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the rubbing-plate, and Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of a modified form of rubbing-plate.

Like numerals designate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates a washboard comprising the usual leg-pieces 6 and transverse braces 7. These braces receive and support a back plate 8, which forms a support for a rubbing-plate 9. It is in the construction of this rubbing-plate that the present invention particularly resides. This rubbingplate is preferably formed of a single sheet of metal and is stamped out in such manner as to provide a series of projecting rubbing-breasts 10. These projecting rubbing-breasts are formed in rows, the breasts of each row being staggered with relation to the breasts of adjacent rows. Formed between the breasts of each row are water-pockets 11, the bottoms of which are closed by the tops 12 of the breasts of the next lower row. trated in Figs. 1 and 3, the width of the breasts 10 at their outer rubbing edges 13 is considerably less than the width of the bottoms of the pockets 11. The construction illustrated in Fig. 4 is substantially the same as that illustrated in Fig. 3, with the exception that openings 14 are formed through the plate at the base of the pockets 11 and serve to permit the water to pass through said plate, if it be desired to do so.

When the herein-described plate is used as the rubbing-surface of a washboard, it is secured in the usual manner in the frame formed by the members 6 and 7. As the clothes are rubbed over the surface of this plate the edges 13 of the rubbing-breasts, which are slightly rounded, engage the clothes and serve to remove the dirt therefrom. A certain amount'of the water from said clothes enters the pockets 11 and is retained there, said water serving to aid in washing the clothes and rendering it unnecessary to dip the clothes into the water contained in the washtub as often as would be the case if these water-receiving pockets were not provided. By forming the rubbing-breasts 10 of less width than the pockets channels 15 are formed between adjacent pockets, whereby the pockets are connected diagonally across the plate. This permits the water from the upper pockets to drain into the lower pockets, thereby keeping up a constant circulation of water upon the face ofy the rubbing-plate. A further advantage of having these breasts of less width than the pockets resides in the fact that the clothes are permitted to enter the space formed between the upper side edges 16 of the rubbingbreasts and the edges 17 of said rubbingbreasts. All of these edges are slightly rounded and serve to frictionally engage the; clothes without injuring the same.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that simple and eiiicient means are herein provided for accomplishing the objects of As is clearly illusroo IOS

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the invention; but while the elements shown i jections of each rowbeing staggeredwith relaand described are well adapted to serve the j tion to the projections of adjoining rows and purposes for which they are intended it is to the recesses between said projections forming be understood that the invention is not limitpockets, the bottoms of said pockets being ed to the precise construction set forth, but formed by the tops of the projections of the includes within its purview such changes as neXt lower row and said projections being of may be made within the scope of the ap less width than said pockets.

ended claim. j In testimony whereof I ax my signature What I claiin isin presence of two witnesses.

The combination with a washboard, of a FREDERIC MARTIN. rubbing-plate having a plurality of rows of projections upon the surface thereof and havL ing recesses between said projections7 the proj Witnesses:

FRANK G. CAMPBELL, CARL STOUGHTON. 

